Parking
Use Stock Lane Car Park in Grasmere, then walk toward St Oswald's Church; the loop begins nearby and returns to the village.
Overview
About Grasmere and Rydal Water Circular
Why go
- Two lakes, a historic bridleway and literary landmarks in one loop
- Low-level route with modest ascent and no summit logistics
Heads up
- Two crossings of the busy A591 and recurring road walking
- Rough, wet sections and gates make it less than a smooth stroll
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Lake District map
Full mapElevation58–164 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
8 active Lake District alerts
- ClosureChapel Stile footpath closed for retaining-wall riskPart of Footpath 543030 between Chapel Stile and Baysbrown campsite is closed because a retaining wall beside the path could collapse and material it supports could fall across the footpath.Official details
- ClosureStanley Ghyll Lower Falls footpath closed for rockfallThe section of Footpath 408037 leading towards Stanley Ghyll Lower Falls is closed because severe rockfall damage has made the path unstable and further rockfall remains a danger.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Lake District Tour Guide
Your drive to Grasmere and Rydal Water Circular, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Lake District National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this trailhead
Grasmere: Riverside, Gingerbread and Lake0:00 / 1:20
“You're nearing Grasmere village, where you can combine a walk beside the River Rothay with a stop for the local gingerbread.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Lake District Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Wordsworth Grasmere: Inside Dove Cottage
- Easedale Tarn: Waterfalls from Grasmere
- Rydal Water and Cave from White Moss
- Mill Bridge: Seat Sandal and the Grasmere View
- 298 audio storiesacross Lake District’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Red Deer, Eurasian Otter, Osprey, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 265 trails, 89 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Grasmere and Rydal Water Circular
The LoopA complete circuit of 6.0 miles, usually walked in about three hours.
A complete circuit of 6.0 miles, usually walked in about three hours. It starts in Grasmere village by St Oswald's Church and Stock Lane, crosses the A591 near Town End and Dove Cottage, then climbs gently onto the Coffin Route, a public bridleway once used to carry the dead from Rydal to St Oswald's for burial. The path runs through rough woodland and open ground with long views before dropping past Rydal Mount and Rydal church back to the main road.
The Second HalfFrom Dipper Bridge over the River Rothay, the walk picks up the paths along Rydal Water,…
From Dipper Bridge over the River Rothay, the walk picks up the paths along Rydal Water, following lakeshore and field edges. A footbridge over the Grasmere outfall leads to the Grasmere shore, and the return is on Red Bank Road and through the village. The payoff is water, woodland and local history rather than height. This is a low-level walk, not a summit route.
Difficulty and FootingRated 4 out of 10, with about 190 metres of ascent spread across the day.
Rated 4 out of 10, with about 190 metres of ascent spread across the day. Surfaces change often: tarmac road, smooth track, rough gravel, exposed roots, wet ground and a handful of short rocky or steep steps. There are gates to work through. Basic map reading is useful, though the line is easy to follow. The route is low level but not fully accessible.
Roads and CrossingsExpect recurring road walking, including the return along Red Bank Road and the village streets.
Expect recurring road walking, including the return along Red Bank Road and the village streets. The A591 is crossed twice and is busy, so pick your moment and keep groups together.
Access and ParkingStock Lane Car Park in Grasmere is the most practical starting point and sits within about 40…
Stock Lane Car Park in Grasmere is the most practical starting point and sits within about 40 metres of the route line, which closes back at the same place. Walking out of the car park toward St Oswald's Church puts you straight on the opening section, and finishing in the village means cafes and shops at the end rather than the middle.
DogsDogs are welcome on the ordinary public route.
Dogs are welcome on the ordinary public route. Keep them under close control throughout, and on a lead near livestock in the fields and open ground along the way.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Lake District
81 sightingsRed DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
13 sightingsEurasian OtterMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
76 sightingsOspreyMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
51 sightingsEuropean BadgerMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
233 sightingsMute SwanMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
176 sightingsGrey HeronMost seen around 7 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Lake District. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
